There’s nothing like a 30-minute each-way walk in the southwest England heat to get the blood going!

I visited this afternoon St. Mary Redcliffe, an old local parish with an incredibly preserved Gothic structure. Herbert Howells wrote music for this parish, so I simply had to visit.

Getting ready to leave, I noticed that Evening Prayers would commence in five minutes, so I joined the lector in the Lady Chapel for a 25-minute prayer service. My friends and colleagues in the GHTC choir were named aloud, with prayers offered for safe passage, and for peace of heart and mind, as they must surely be tremendously frustrated and tired at this point.

Those of us who are here in Bristol will join for dinner in an hour’s time. I understand that we’ll be going to Exeter tomorrow to be tourists and sing Evensong no matter what. The KC contingent is to arrive at Manchester in early morning, but they will be wheezing in to make it by time for Evensong, and then will surely be exhausted as well.

No matter. All will be well, as God is in heaven, and as my birthday will come ‘round no matter who is here to celebrate and make merry.